Page 15: of Marine News Magazine (February 2017)

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What is the biggest issue on the plate of the marine safety group at this moment? What are you doing to solve it?

The maritime industry faces the triple challenge over the next several decades of increasing the capacity of the Marine Transportation system (MTS), while reducing the environ- mental footprint in the face of every increasing complexity. This triple challenge drives Coast Guard mari- time prevention priorities as well.

We are focused on increasing capac- ity of the MTS through our Future of Navigation initiative even while we increase our internal capacity to provide governance through the workforce and third party initiatives

I’ve already mentioned. Another fo- cus area of the Coast Guard is pro- viding effective and reasonable envi- ronmental standards and compliance strategies in order to reduce the en- vironmental footprint of the MTS.

You see this today in air emissions, ballast water and other waste streams.

We strive to put standards in pace that drive the innovation required to meet this environmental challenge, and to develop compliance processes that provide the level playing